By ride&run in February, 2012
The gap was callled the ArMar Gap or Armar Gap not Anmar Gap. The Ar is for Arlington and the Mar is for Marysville. This road was the ArMar Highway at one time.
By toolbear in January, 2012
1/1/2012
Reports from the field...
GAP CLOSED...
The Anmar Gap is closed. No more playing with logging trucks or taking the ditch.
TRAIL REACHES THE PILCHUCK...
The trail now extends past Bryant Trailhead 1.56 miles to the Pilchuck River crossing. This leaves about 3.6 miles to go to the northern trail end. They were working on renovating an old barn up there in the summer of '11 and doing a parking lot. The crossing should open in the spring of 12.
Google Earth photos from 8/25/2011 show them working on a new bridge there. Wonder where the old bridge went?
This is a fine trail now and when finished it will be a very nice ride - one of many in the NorthWet.
For an encore, how about paving the Whitehorse Trail out of Arlington towards Darrington?
Ride on!
TrailBear
By toolbear in August, 2011
Happier days are almost here on the Snohomish Centennial Trail.
Envision riding from Snohomish to Arlington and up to Bryant without risking life and limb at the Anmar Gap – that section of missing trail between Anmar Trailhead and the city portion of the trail up at the Rt. 531/67th Ave. NE intersection.
Today, to get from the trailhead up to Arlington you venture onto 67th Ave. NE. and take your chances on a two lane high speed road with logging trucks, soccer moms on the phone, no shoulders and deep, briar-filled ditches on both sides. You have to take the lane or the ditch.
On the far side of the intersection you pick up the bike/walk MUP on the eastern side of the street and take it north to the old depot, now a park, in downtown Arlington. From there it’s the Arlington Art Walk portion of the trail to the Stillaguamish River Bridge and up to Bryant.
Work is well along on closing the Anmar Gap with a new section of trail from the Anmar Trailhead up to the junction of 67th Ave. NE and SR 531. The new trail will meet 67th Ave. NE about a block short of the intersection for a bit of bike lane.
As of 8.28.11, the whole right of way has been cleared, graded and has the gravel base installed. Can we hope that the blacktop will be in before the fall rains? In any event, next summer there should clear riding from Snohomish to Arlington and beyond.
Things are happening beyond Bryant. While the trail now stops at Bryant, it is planned to go up to the Skagit County line. This spring the right of way up beyond Bryant was grassy double track with straw on the ruts. Now is has been graded. We hope that the gravel base will be installed soon. It would be nice to get blacktop at least up to the river. At the northern trailhead they are grading behind the barn. Parking lot? Looks like one. Stay tuned.
Today the Anmar Trailhead was getting fuller by the hour. We were parked in the overflow at 10 AM and that lot was getting crowded by noon. A lot of rides originate out of this trailhead. If Arlington steps up, that business can move to the old rail yard there. It’s now a park in need of a trailside restroom and water and things that would attract rider$.
What would be delightful would be ice cold beer, burger and ice cream stops along Railroad Street across from the trail. Riding up to Arlington for lunch and back might become a popular ride from the southern trailheads. The forward-looking owner of the grocery across the street from the Bryant Trailhead already advertises “Ice Cold Beer.”
With the Anmar Gap closing, TrailBear dreams of the Whitehorse Trail being paved up to Darrington. Arlington would become a local Destination for riders, with trails north, south and east. Who knows... Skagit County might build a connecting trail that will run up to the Cascade Trail. (TB is not holding his breath on that one.)
TrailBear
8.29.11